Cosmetic surgical process

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a process for achieving a subcutaneous padding during cosmetic surgery. Subcutaneous tissue and fat is recovered from redundant skin which is surgically removed during plastic surgery. The tissue and fat are formed into a homogeneous mixture as by mixing it with a saline solution or Ringers solution in a high speed blender. The homogenized mixture is then spray injected through the incision underneath the tightened skin of the patient&#39;&#39;s face. This results in a well contoured appearance of the skin due to restoration of subcutaneous padding.

United States Patent Franklyn [151 3,654,914 [451 Apr. 11,1972

[54] COSMETIC SURGICAL PROCESS [2 1} Appl. No.: 66,108

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,022,783 2/1962 Tucker,Jr ..128/1R 3,400,719 9/1968 Buddecke ..3/lX

3,408,659 1l/l968 Kieletal ..3/]

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney-Roylance, Abrams, Kruger, Berdo and Kaul [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a process for achieving a subcutaneous padding during cosmetic surgery. Subcutaneous tissue and fat is recovered from redundant skin which is surgically removed during plastic surgery. The tissue and fat are formed into a homogeneous mixture as by mixing it with a saline solution or Ringers solution in a high speed blender. The homogenized mixture is then spray injected through the incision underneath the tightened skin of the patients face. This results in a well contoured appearance of the skin due to restoration of subcutaneous padding.

3 Claims, No Drawings COSMETIC SURGICAL PROCESS This invention relates to an improved plastic surgical technique. More particularly, this invention relates to a process for utilizing natural soft tissues of the human body under the skin of the face as a means to enhance the rejuvenating effect of cosmetic surgical procedures.

During plastic or cosmetic surgery, a considerable amount of excess skin is removed surgically from a patients face to eliminate or reduce sagging skin on the face and neck. This excess skin is commonly discarded.

A feature of the aging process is not only the accumulation of excess or redundant folds of skin on the face, but also a diminished subcutaneous fat padding under the skin which contributes to deep grooves and hollow cheek appearance. Many attempts have been made in the past in an effort to counteract this condition by injecting a foreign substance, such as silicone oils or paraffin under the skin. However, the patient often reacts adversely to such foreign materials, resulting in inflamation, lumps, or other unsatisfactory aftereffects. Another method which has been used to provide subcutaneous padding is by the surgical implantation of strips of human tissue or fat. However, the body often absorbs much of the implant, resulting in an uneven padding of fat.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method of achieving a subcutaneous padding during plastic surgery.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a process which utilizes natural human soft tissues which are compatible with and acceptable to the patients body.

According to the practice of this invention, excess skin is removed from the face, neck, or body by a standard surgical technique, such as a face lifting procedure. For example, elliptal incisions may be made under the eyes to remove sagging skin. The excess skin is kept under sterile conditions after removal. The subcutaneous fibrous tissue and fat layers are scraped from the removed skin and the exterior layer of skin is discarded. The recovered subcutaneous material is then macerated and mixed with a diluent which is compatible with the human body such as a normal saline solution, Ringers solution, or other serum substitute. The mixture is thoroughly mixed such as by placing it in a high speed blender to form a homogeneous admixture. The homogeneous admixture comprises a golden yellow fatty suspension of finely divided fat and tissue.

The homogeneous mixture is placed in a device, such as an atomizer dispenser or a jet pressure device, which will liberate under pressure a stream of finely divided particles from the fatty suspension. The noule of the dispensing device is introduced under the skin through the open incision formed by the removal of the skin. A suflicient amount of the suspension is deposited or injected over the external fascial layers of the facial musculature, subcutaneous to the skin to provide an even filling or coating of these areas. The incision is then closed by suturing. After the incision has healed, the area in which the suspension was injected is characterized by a well contoured appearance. Moreover, the body does not tend to reject or adversely react to the fatty material thus introduced.

The following example illustrates the practice of this invention.

EXAMPLE A patient, female, age 55, having a number of wrinkles and folds in the skin on the face and neck is treated as follows: Incisions are made in the skin around the ears and the excess skin is removed by standard surgical techniques. Subcutaneous fibrous tissue and the fat layers are scraped from the removed skin and this material is macerated, with a scalpel. The material is then mixed with 10 cc of normal saline solution. The mixture is blended in a high speed Waring blender for 2 minutes. The resultant gold and yellow homogeneous fatty suspension is placed in an atomizing injecting device and the tissue suspension is iplj ected under the skin through the in- ClSlOn tn an amount s clent to provide an even filling between the skin and the external fascial layer of the facial musculative. The incisions are then closed by stitching. After healing, the areas treated are characterized by a well contoured appearance.

This invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a method for performing plastic surgery wherein excess skin is surgically removed from the body of a patient, the improvement which comprises removing the subcutaneous fibrous tissue and fatty layers from the surgically removed redundant skin, mixing this material with a liquid to form a homogenous mixture and injecting the homogenized mixture under the skin of the patient to provide a subcutaneous padding under the skin.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid is a saline solution or Ringers solution.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said homogenized mixture is injected through the incision made during removal of the excess skin. 

1. In a method for performing plastic surgery wherein excess skin is surgically removed from the body of a patient, the improvement which comprises removing the subcutaneous fibrous tissue and fatty layers from the surgically removed redundant skin, mixing this material with a liquid to form a homogenous mixture and injecting the homogenized mixture under the skin of the patient to provide a subcutaneous padding under the skin.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid is a saline solution or Ringers solution.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said homogenized mixture is injected through the incision made during removal of the excess skin. 